ONE

SOPHIA'S POV 

I heard a growl tear through the wolf's throat like a deep grumble before it leaped Into the air, paws stretched towards me.

In my days when Afedia Kingdom was still standing, and I was still holding onto my title as the Princess, I would have killed this mutt off with a single zap of my powers from my finger tips. 

But having been stripped of my title, my parents, my loved ones and any means of finding food for seven days, I was powerless. You could call me a human at that moment. 

A human dying of starvation. 

Gasping with a parched throat, I felt the air leave my lungs when the weight of the wolf went down my body, pushing me to the ground. 

Every inch of my body felt the dirt and pebbles sticking in as I rolled like a log of wood before stopping, panting hard, my chest heaving at the effort of my shallow breaths. 

Their heavy foot stalls got louder, and I quickly sit up, scrambling back with my hands and feet as I saw about twenty to twenty five werewolves in their animal forms gathered around me in a circle, slowly shortening the distance between us. 

I could tell they knew I was fae, and fae's blood was actually a delicacy in the werewolf clan. Thanks to my mates, no one was allowed to feed on my blood back at Silver Prime's pack, but that didn't mean they were any better. 

They only reason they gave that order was because I was used as their personal blood bag which they didn't want to share, and that was one of the reasons I ran away. 

It's been three days since I ran from the pack without looking back, and despite knowing I was a second away from dying, I pretty much prefered it than having to face those assholes again. 

Those filthy cowards were finally daring enough to maltreat me because I was helpless and powerless, but I actually had hope that if I went in search of the blue ruby stone and found It, I would be able to get my powers in folds, and then, they won't be a match for me. 

Mates or not, I would burn them to the ground along with their pack members and watch them suffer in satisfaction. 

But with no food and water available and having to run from werewolves, rogues and vampires during half my journey, I had already given up trying. 

Suddenly, a werewolf by my side snarled, Its upper lip drawn back to reveal sharp intimidating looking canniness before he pounced on me, claws out in the air to rip me into pieces. 

Eyes widening, I ducked by rolling to the side, gritting my teeth as my elbows dug hard into the dirt where I rolled. 

Horror however replaced the pain in my eyes as I watched the werewolf who just pounced on me but missed, land on the floor and slided across the ground not too far from me, raising dust in the air, his crimson red eyes still trained on me. 

Cornered once again, the werewolves began moving forward, all at once, and I crawl back with my chapped lips trembling, trying to watch them all at once as their crimson red eyes studied me, watching my every move, waiting for the right moment to leap on me. 

"Look, I don't think you guys would be interested in making someone as skinny as I your next meal. I doubt I even taste good." I couldn't believe I was trying to plead with them. My pride would never let me, but it was my only chance before I became mutt chow. "I've lost my powers so my blood is basically tasteless now... "

I didn't think it was any use, because the next second, I saw them take their stance to jump.

 Using the last ounce of strength I had left, I swish my wrsit in the air, and a small ball of flame lit up my fingers before I threw it to the spot right Infront of me. 

The bushes around me caught fire, and as the werewolves stared down at the source of heat forcing them back, I quickly scrambled up on my feet and resumed running again. I ran until I found myself in an abandoned city. One of the places where those assholes had gone on a killing spree and had forced all faes to evacuate the cities and go into hiding. 

The ones- like me- who was captured were used as slaves for the werewolves or blood bags.

I turned up a dark street- what looked like an alley, and I grimaced each time I lost my footing and fell to the muddy ground below. By the time I was out, my clothes stuck to my body uncomfortably. Puddles had splashed all over my legs, and by the sound of garbage bins dropping to the ground, I knew those damn werewolves were getting close. 

Suddenly, I ran into a dead end, and before I could turn and make a run for it, the werewolves had already cornered me again.

Shit. 

The first werewolf pounces on me once again, and this time it doesn't miss, sending me flying to the wall. 

The air in my body is knocked out of me as I fall hard against the wall before sliding to the ground, eyes half closed, groaning at the pain inflicted at my back. 

Weakly, I sat there against the wall, prepared for the next hit which might kill me, and I see another werewolf running towards me with murderous intent in its eyes, when suddenly a scorching flame of fire from no where rise from the ground and swallowed him up, turning him to ashes in less than some seconds.

Even my eyes grew wide seeing the way the flames danced around as it burnt him up, spreading as It holwed in pain until it died. 

I was wondering just what had happened when I felt all the hairs stand at the back of my neck and arms. Even in the midst of werewolves, the irresistible scent of my mates acting like an invisible pull of attraction could have that alluring effect on my senses, causing me to feel nothing else but the bond we share. 

Oh no. I snapped my head up to the side where I could sense their prescence. 

Unfortunately, as I dreaded, my mates were standing there, eyes dark, cold and unfriendly as they scrutinized me, yet left an unsated hunger in me for them running through the blood in my veins as I returned their glares. 

Shit